Ernest Welde says he was chased, swung and even pushed by truck drivers who disapproved of his side concert. From his phone, Weld records trucks that have been parked for more than three minutes with engines still running, a violation of New York.
“Every time I leave my house, I’m prepared for an attack,” Welde, a daily environmental lawyer, told CNBC. “You have to go out, expecting a confrontation.”
Welde’s search for idle trucks began with an online citizen reporting program launched by New York’s Department of the Environment in 2019. It’s called the Citizens’ Air Complaints Program and allows ordinary New Yorkers to receive a cash prize. for its “enforcement efforts”.
Emissions from petrol and diesel engines of motor vehicles at idle contribute to health problems, including asthma, respiratory problems and cardiovascular damage, according to the agency’s website.
To participate in the program, citizen reporters must shoot a video showing a commercial vehicle idling for more than three minutes. They then enter the city’s complaints system at idle to file and follow up their complaint.
According to the DEP, the fine for an offender for the first time is $ 350 and more for repeat offenders. A 25 percent discount – or $ 87.50 – is paid to the person who shot the video and filed the complaint.
“I have filed more than 2,000 complaints,” Welde said, adding that they are being processed.
Profitable side work
CNBC is talking to other fresh air vigilantes who record empty trucks as side work. These include a pediatrician, a former Wall Street banker and an actress named Rachel Ondaker.
“I can only get five or six in a few minutes from walking to work,” Opendaker told CNBC. “I [pretend] I’m on my phone looking around, looking like I’m looking for someone. “
Patrick Schnell, a pediatrician, estimates he has made $ 36,000 so far. His technique is to hold his phone in his hand and “try to be invisible,” he said. “It works, but not always.”
An 81-year-old New Yorker named Paul Slapikas said he has raised $ 64,000 so far, “without even trying.”
“There are idle trucks everywhere,” Slapikas said. “I am currently awaiting 42 applications for a reward of $ 7,300 to be paid.”
“The knives pulled me”
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the city has raised $ 2.4 million since the start of the online program. In all, civic reporters have earned more than $ 724,000 and continue to count. The DEP says the number of complaints has risen by 35% from 9,070 in 2019 to 12,267 in 2021.
Although the program is a revenue generator, this is not always the surest way to make quick money.
“I was pulled with knives three times,” Slapikas said, “and I never shed a drop of blood.”
A DEP spokesman said the city was not responsible if a citizen was attacked in a “voluntary act” to report a vehicle not working.
Former Wall Street banker George Packenham estimates he has made about $ 40,000 since the program began, but said he was not in it for the money.
“This is a public health problem,” Packenham said.
As a medical professional, Schnell agrees.
“I really do it because I see how bad air pollution is, especially in big cities where there’s a lot of traffic,” Schnell said.
A DEP spokesman said in an email that in addition to civic reporters, there are about 70 inspectors who impose noise and air codes in the city.
There is a lot of work ahead for the fresh air watchdogs.
“Any commercial vehicle that is not involved in the process and is parked must turn off the engine,” Welde said. “I won `t stop [reporting trucks] until there is no more idleness in New York. “